Electric socket and casing



Oct. 22, 1935. I K LLATH 2,018,134.

ELECTRIC SOCKET AND CASING Filed March 17, 1930 REX/a4: 29 #08851? 30 "M1 I W J '1 w H L e 58 mafia/mama; @0 15 M Patented Oct. 22, 1935 ELECTRIC SOCKET AND CASING Francis 0. Kollath, Chicago, Ill., assignor of onehalf to Daniel Woodhead, Evanston, Ill.

Application March 17, 1930, Serial No.'436,289

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric socket and particularly to an electric socket provided with means which interfittingly engage a socket guard or casing.

The primary object of the invention is toprovide a socket which has new and novel means for connecting a strainrelief member thereto, and which has new and improved terminals arranged thereon.

Another object is to provide a new and improved socket which is provided with, means for interfittingly engaging a socket guard or casing.

A further object is to provide a casing of im-' proved construction which is provided with-means for interfittingly receiving a strain relief member on a socket.

BE'lSSUEi) edly engages for securing the conductors II and I2 to the terminals. A base portion I3 which is integral with the body 9 is bent over from the body portion and is rigidly connected to the disk A still further object is to provide an improved strain relief member which is secured to the body of a socket by elements which act as contactors or terminals. Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The invention comprises in general a socket member having a relatively flat strain relief member which is made of insulating material and which is connected to the body of the socket by the terminals to which electrical contact is made with the socket. The strain relief member is provided with outwardly extending projections which are received in grooves in'a flexible rubber guard or casing. The projections .on the strain relief member provides shoulders which engage shoul-- ders inside of the rubber guard or casing.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

l is a detail elevation showing the improved socket arranged in its cooperating guard or casing and showing conductors electrically connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is a similar view at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is 'a detail sectional view on the lin 3-3 of Fig. '1.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the improved socket and strain relief member.

Referring to the drawing, 5 designates generally a socket member having the usual screw thre aded shell 6. This shell is rigidly connected to an insulated disk I to which a pair of terminals 3, 8 are attached and which are electrically connected with the socket in the usual manner.

These terminals 8 each comprise amain body portion 3 into which a screw member III thread- I. A wing portion I4 which is integral with the 5 body portion 9 is'bent at right angles to thebody portion and is rigidly connected to the strain relief member I5. "Each terminal 8 therefore comprises a portion which is attached to the socket member a portion which is attached to the strain 10 relief member, and a body portion to which an electrical connection is made with a conductor.

The strain relief member I5 is madeof insulating material and comprises a base portion I6 which is 'adapted to rest against the outer face 15 of the disk I. This strain relief member is fastened to the socket by means of the terminals 8 which were previously described. Projections I1 and I8 extend from the sides, Hand 20 respectively of the strain relief .member and provide 20 shoulders 2I and 22. Holes 23 and 24 are provided in. the strain relief member to receive the conductors II and I2 respectively. The conductors straddle the strain relief member, the conductor I2 passing over one side of the strain 25 relief member, through the hole 24 and then connected to a terminal 8 on one sideof the strain relief member, while the conductor I I passes over' the other side of the strain relief member, through the hole 23 and connected to the terminal 8 on 30 the side opposite to which the conductor I2 is connected to its cooperating terminal 8.

- a single sheath 30, extend through the passage 29 and make electrical connection with the contacts after the conductors pass through the holes 23 and 24. By passing the conductors through/the holes on opposite sides as previously set forth, 4 any strain applied on the cable so will not be transmitted to theterminals but will-be taken up by the strain relief member where the conductors pass through the holes 23 and 24. 2'

The casing or guard 25 is provided with oppo- 50 sitely alined longitudinal slots or grooves 3| and These slots or grooves are deepened or enlarged at 33 to proviiie shoulders 34. These shoulders are adapted to engage the shoulders 2| and 22 on the strain relief member to prevent the socket fromfalling out of the casing or guard. The casing or guard is preferably made of flexible rubber which expands or flexes suii'iciently to permit the projections l1 and I8 on the strain relief member 15 to be slid through the slots or grooves 3| and 32. When the socket is finally inserted in position, the projections l1 and IE will engage the sides of the slots or grooves where they are deepened as indicated at 33. The flexibility of the casing permits it to spring back to normal position and engage or hug the sides of the strain relief member as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The shoulders 2i and 22 on the strain relief member engage the shoulders 84in the casing to prevent the socket from being withdrawn accidentally from the casing, but the flexibility of the rubber permits the socket to be withdrawn from the casing if and when it is desired to remove it. The guard 25 may also be provided with exterior annular flanges 35 and 36 to provide an annular groove 37 into which the clamping ring of a shade or lamp guard (not shown) may be received. The fiat strain relief member engaging the grooves in the casing prevents the socket or any of its parts from turning in the casing even when a lamp or plug is screwed in the socket.

The invention provides a socket which is comparatively simple in construction and which may be readily and economically manufactured. The strain relief member not only acts as a strain relief to take up any strain which may be exerted on the conductors, but it also assists in holding the socket member in its cooperating casing. The

casing is provided with a groove into which the strain relief member may be slid and the cooperating shoulders on the casing and the shoulders on the strain relief member securely hold the socket in position and prevent any strain on the conductors from being transmitted to the ter minals. The terminals are preferably made in one piece from a sheet of brass material. The

terminals not only provide means for making an electrical connection between the conductors and the socket, but also perform the function of holding the strain relief member and the socket to-' gether.

Changes may be'made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacriflcing any of its advantages, and the right ishereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The inventionis hereby claimed as follows:

1. In combination, a flexible rubber open-ended casing having alined grooves extending from the margin of the opening, said grooves merging with deeper grooves and providing shoulders, a flat base in said casing and engaging said grooves, said base having projections received in said deeper grooves, said projections providing shoulders enaging the first shoulders and holding the base in position.

2. In combination, a flexible rubber open-ended casing having alined grooves extending from the margin of the opening, said grooves merging with deeper grooves and providing shoulders, a flat base in said casing and engaging said grooves,-

said base having projections received" in said deeper grooves, said projectionsproviding shoulders engaging the first shoulders and holdingthe base in position, contacts fastened to each side of the base, and electric terminals connected to said contacts.

3. A connector comprising a flexible casing made of flexible rubber-like material, a shell of a 5 predetermined diameter arranged in the casing, a flat base connected to the shell, a partof said base being of a .width greater than the diameter of the shell and forming shoulders, said casing having grooves therein forming shoulders and 10 being stretchable within limits for holding the base in position in the casing, the shoulders of the base locking with the shoulders of the casing.

4. A connector comprising a shell of a predetermined diameter, a fiat base connected to the 15 shell, a part of said base being of a greater width than the diameter of the shell, a flexible rubber casing receiving the connector, and shoulders on the inside of the casing and engaging the said part of the base for holding the connector in 20 place inside of the casing, said casing having aligned grooves therein to receive the said part of said base.

5. A connector comprising a shell of a predetermined diameter, a flat base connected to the shell, a part of said base being of a greater width than the diameter of the shell, a flexible rubber casing receiving the connector, and shoulders on the inside of the casing and engaging the said part of the base for holding the connector in place 30 inside of the casing, said casing having aligned grooves therein to receive the said part of said base, said grooves forming said shoulders which engage the said part of said base.

6. An electric connector comprising a soft flexible casing made of rubber-like material and having an opening therein, said casing having opposite grooves in its inner Wall extending from the margin of the opening and having shoulders intermediate their lengths, a base arranged in 40,

said casing and having extensions extending into the grooves, the extensions forming shoulders engaging the first named shoulders for locking the base in the casing, and electric connector means fastened to the base, said casing being stretchable 45.

within certain limits to permit insertion or removal of said base..

'7. An electric connector comprising a. base, a disk connected to the basela shell engaging the disk, a contact member perpendicular to the disk, 50.

an integral base portion bent from the contact and fastened to the disk, and a wing bent'froma side of i the contact member and fastened to the base.

8. A connector comprising a casing having an opening therein, a disk arranged in the opening of the casing, a base plate connected to and extending substantially normal'to the disk, said base plate and easing having-interfitting means to secure the base plate'to the casing, and terminal means connected to said base plate and to the disk to relatively brace the disk and base plate.

FRANCIS o. KOLLATH. 7o 

